Western Michigan: a football coaching history
See Western Michigan’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →← all coaches
Stature and coaches, 1962–2026
The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.
DynastyBlue BloodPower ProgramNational ProgramRegional Program
Run↔pass identity, by season
Every coach
Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.
2023–now
Lance Taylor Steady ◆ COY
Lance Taylor held the Broncos at Regional Program II for 4 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
+1.4 pts over 4 seasons · top 27% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Butch Davis’s Florida International run (2017–2021)
7th-best Western Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Tim Lester (2017–2022).
System Shift, on arrival
| Season | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||
| Record | 4-8 | 6-7 | 10-4 | 6-3 | |
| Postseason | — | L bowl | W bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #105 | #71 | #104 | #112 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||
| Pass rate | 45.1 | 40.3 | 33.0 | 37.8 | |
| Coordinators | |||||
| OC | Billy Cosh | Walt Bell | Walt Bell | Walt Bell | |
| DC | Lou Esposito | Scott Power | Chris O'Leary | Greer Martini / Duane Vaughn | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||
| Offense | 25 | 62 | 42 | 49 | |
| Defense | 27 | 9 | 87 | 58 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||
| 1st-down pass% | 45.2 | 37.2 | 36.4 | 41.5 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 29.4 | 33.0 | 21.3 | 23.8 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 47.1 | 54.3 | 50.0 | 42.9 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
Offense vs. talent
+1.4 pts
#104 of 208 · middle half
Defense vs. talent
-1.3 pts
#113 of 208 · middle half
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Roster construction · portal era
A typical amount of portal roster-building.
Portal arrivals
54
3.0★ avg rating
Portal departures
74
left via the portal
Net portal flow
-20
#88 of 187 FBS stints
Who they bring in
Typical size for position, once adjusted for position mix.
A typical class-year mix of incoming transfers.
Avg. size (raw)
6′2″, 234 lbs
across 41 of 54 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix
Size vs. position-typical
+3.9 lbs
#126 of 255 · middle half
Avg. class year
Jr
#165 of 255 · middle half
Top states: OH (6), IN (5), MI (4), IL (3), GA (3)
Who won the portal our read
Talent added
53.2
position-weighted
Talent lost
55.6
position-weighted
Net
-2.3
arrivals minus departures
Best addition: Hayden Wolff (QB) from Old Dominion
Biggest loss: Treyson Bourguet (QB) to BYU
Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Billy Cosh → Walt Bell · 2024
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 45.2% → 37.2% (-8.0 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 79% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
DC: Lou Esposito → Scott Power · 2024
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
DC: Scott Power → Chris O'Leary · 2025
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
DC: Chris O'Leary → Greer Martini (co) / Duane Vaughn (co) · 2026
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
Roster size, by position
Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)
Quarterback
218 lbs
6′3″ avg · #239 of 767 · middle half
Running back
200 lbs
5′10″ avg · #618 of 791 · bottom quarter
Wide receiver
186 lbs
6′0″ avg · #685 of 791 · bottom quarter
Tight end
233 lbs
6′3″ avg · #690 of 731 · bottom quarter
Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters
Interior line
297 lbs
6′5″ avg · #737 of 779 · bottom quarter
D-line
271 lbs
6′3″ avg · #636 of 753 · bottom quarter
Linebacker
230 lbs
6′2″ avg · #282 of 772 · middle half
Cornerback
175 lbs
6′1″ avg · #771 of 771 · bottom quarter
Safety
187 lbs
6′0″ avg · #340 of 346 · bottom quarter
Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Cornerback from high school
73%
#194 of 236 stints
Postseason detail2024: Lost to South Alabama 23-30 IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl2025: Beat Kennesaw State 41-6 Myrtle Beach Bowl
2 NFL Draft picks: Marshawn Kneeland (2024), Bilhal Kone (2025)
Coach of the Year: MAC Coach of the Year (2025)
1 player-season honored (All-America / national award): Addison West (2024)
+1.4
26-22
2017–2022
Tim Lester Steady
Tim Lester slid the Broncos from National Program III to Regional Program II in 6 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
−6.7 pts over 6 seasons · bottom 14% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Mike O'Cain’s NC State run (1993–1999)
2nd-best Western Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed P.J. Fleck (2013–2016) · succeeded by Lance Taylor (2023–now).
System Shift, on arrival
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||
| Record | 6-6 | 7-6 | 7-6 | 4-2 | 8-5 | 5-7 | |
| Postseason | — | L bowl | L bowl | — | W bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #89 | #76 | #92 | #86 | #96 | #103 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||
| Pass rate | 34.3 | 41.1 | 45.1 | 39.6 | 38.4 | 41.9 | |
| Coordinators | |||||||
| OC | Kevin Johns / Jake Moreland | Jake Moreland | Jake Moreland | Jake Moreland | Mike Bath / Eric Evans | Jeff Thorne | |
| DC | Tim Daoust / Lou Esposito | Tim Daoust / Lou Esposito | Lou Esposito | Lou Esposito | Lou Esposito | Lou Esposito | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||
| Offense | 35 | 44 | 67 | 89 | 93 | 6 | |
| Defense | 50 | 6 | 68 | 25 | 37 | 84 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 33.4 | 36.5 | 44.0 | 34.3 | 38.3 | 40.5 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 25.0 | 34.0 | 31.2 | 35.6 | 27.7 | 35.4 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 27.9 | 52.3 | 51.2 | 29.4 | 48.8 | 44.2 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
Offense vs. talent
+12.2 pts
#59 of 208 · middle half
Defense vs. talent
+0.5 pts
#99 of 208 · middle half
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Roster construction · portal era
Barely touches the portal — recruits and develops his own.
Portal arrivals
6
2.8★ avg rating
Portal departures
15
left via the portal
Net portal flow
-9
#178 of 187 FBS stints
Who they bring in
Typical size for position, once adjusted for position mix.
Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.
Avg. size (raw)
6′0″, 201 lbs
across 3 of 6 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix
Size vs. position-typical
+4.4 lbs
#117 of 255 · middle half
Avg. class year
Sr
#1 of 255 · top quarter
Top states: PA (1), RI (1), MI (1)
Who won the portal our read
Talent added
24.4
position-weighted
Talent lost
37.6
position-weighted
Net
-13.2
arrivals minus departures
Best addition: Anthony Romphf (CB) from Purdue
Biggest loss: Ginial Isma (CB) to the portal
Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Kevin Johns / Jake Moreland (co) → Jake Moreland · 2018
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 33.4% → 36.5% (+3.1 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 80% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: Jake Moreland → Mike Bath (co) / Eric Evans (co) · 2021
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 34.3% → 38.3% (+4.0 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 82% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: Mike Bath (co) / Eric Evans (co) → Jeff Thorne · 2022
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 38.3% → 40.5% (+2.2 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 32% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
DC: Tim Daoust / Lou Esposito (co) → Lou Esposito · 2019The defense improved
2-season window either side.
Roster size, by position
Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)
Quarterback
205 lbs
6′2″ avg · #603 of 767 · bottom quarter
Running back
207 lbs
5′10″ avg · #381 of 791 · middle half
Wide receiver
187 lbs
5′11″ avg · #635 of 791 · bottom quarter
Tight end
240 lbs
6′4″ avg · #552 of 731 · bottom quarter
Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters
Interior line
302 lbs
6′4″ avg · #656 of 779 · bottom quarter
D-line
282 lbs
6′3″ avg · #437 of 753 · middle half
Linebacker
227 lbs
6′1″ avg · #449 of 772 · middle half
Cornerback
182 lbs
5′11″ avg · #708 of 771 · bottom quarter
Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Quarterback from high school
75%
#164 of 206 stints
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Postseason detail2018: Lost to BYU 18-49 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl2019: Lost to Western Kentucky 20-23 Servpro First Responder Bowl2021: Beat Nevada 52-24 Quick Lane Bowl
6 NFL Draft picks: Chukwuma Okorafor (2018), Darius Phillips (2018), D'Wayne Eskridge (2021), Jaylon Moore (2021), Skyy Moore (2022), Zaire Barnes (2023)
−6.7
37-32
2013–2016
P.J. Fleck Steady
P.J. Fleck moved the Broncos from Regional Program II to National Program III in 4 seasons.
2013 offense ranked in the 4th percentile nationally — historically bad
+9.3 pts over 4 seasons · top 6% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Todd Graham’s Tulsa run (2007–2010)
1st-best Western Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Bill Cubit (2005–2012) · succeeded by Tim Lester (2017–2022).
System Shift, on arrival
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||
| Record | 1-11 | 8-5 | 8-5 | 13-1 | |
| Postseason | — | L bowl | W bowl | L bowl | |
| Recruiting rank | #108 | #71 | #76 | #67 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||
| Pass rate | 53.0 | 42.5 | 43.4 | 37.4 | |
| Coordinators | |||||
| OC | — | Kirk Ciarrocca | Kirk Ciarrocca | Kirk Ciarrocca | |
| DC | — | Ed Pinkham | Ed Pinkham | Ed Pinkham | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||
| Offense | 4 | 77 | 96 | 96 | |
| Defense | 34 | 78 | 32 | 35 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||
| 1st-down pass% | 48.9 | 38.4 | 40.2 | 39.2 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 42.4 | 29.9 | 37.0 | 26.3 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 30.8 | 28.6 | 35.9 | 28.2 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Outperforms his recruiting talent on offense and underperforms his recruiting talent on defense.
Offense vs. talent
+49.4 pts
#2 of 208 · top quarter
Defense vs. talent
-13.6 pts
#162 of 208 · bottom quarter
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Edge from high school
100%
#191 of 208 stints
Postseason detail2014: Lost to Air Force 24-38 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl2015: Beat Middle Tennessee 45-31 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl2016: Lost to Wisconsin 16-24 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
5 NFL Draft picks: Willie Beavers (2016), Daniel Braverman (2016), Corey Davis (2017), Taylor Moton (2017), Keion Adams (2017)
1 player-season honored (All-America / national award): Zach Terrell (2016)
+9.3
30-22
2005–2012
Bill Cubit Steady
Bill Cubit moved the Broncos from Regional Program III to Regional Program II in 8 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
+2.1 pts over 8 seasons · bottom 49% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Bob Davie’s New Mexico run (2012–2019)
9th-best Western Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Gary Darnell (1997–2004) · succeeded by P.J. Fleck (2013–2016).
System Shift, on departure
System Shift, on arrival
| Season | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||
| Record | 7-4 | 8-5 | 5-7 | 9-4 | 5-7 | 6-6 | 7-6 | 4-8 | |
| Postseason | — | L bowl | — | L bowl | — | — | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #81 | #90 | #101 | #89 | #98 | #88 | #82 | #91 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||
| Pass rate | 47.4 | 46.4 | 49.7 | 59.9 | 60.6 | 55.2 | 58.8 | 55.8 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||
| Offense | 44 | 38 | 38 | 54 | 27 | 69 | 76 | 54 | |
| Defense | 24 | 84 | 86 | 22 | 22 | 56 | 22 | 62 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | 37.7 | 43.1 | 39.9 | 57.9 | 58.3 | 59.6 | 55.7 | 57.9 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 47.3 | 51.6 | 47.1 | 59.1 | 58.9 | 52.5 | 58.4 | 58.8 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 29.0 | 37.0 | 38.8 | 46.2 | 33.3 | 53.5 | 41.3 | 24.0 | |
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Kicker from high school
100%
#52 of 56 stints
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Postseason detail2006: Lost to Cincinnati 24-27 International Bowl At Toronto On2008: Lost to Rice 14-38 Bowl2011: Lost to Purdue 32-37 Little Caesars Bowl
6 NFL Draft picks: Greg Jennings (2006), Tony Scheffler (2006), Louis Delmas (2009), E.J. Biggers (2009), Jordan White (2012), John Potter (2012)
+2.1
51-47
1997–2004
Gary Darnell Steady
Gary Darnell moved the Broncos from Regional Program II to Regional Program I in 8 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
+3.6 pts over 8 seasons · top 43% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Eli Drinkwitz’s Missouri run (2020–now)
5th-best Western Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Al Molde (1987–1996) · succeeded by Bill Cubit (2005–2012).
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||
| Record | 8-3 | 7-4 | 7-5 | 9-3 | 5-6 | 4-8 | 5-7 | 1-10 | |
| Postseason | — | — | L bowl | L bowl | — | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | #86 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 54.3 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 70 | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 42.3 | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 52.6 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Interior line from high school
100%
#198 of 224 stints
Postseason detail1999: Lost to Marshall 30-34 Bowl2000: Lost to Marshall 14-19 Bowl
1 NFL Draft pick: Jason Babin (2004)
+3.6
46-46
1987–1996
Al Molde Steady
Al Molde held the Broncos at Regional Program II for 10 seasons.
−1.6 pts over 10 seasons · bottom 14% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Kalani Sitake’s BYU run (2016–now)
8th-best Western Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Jack Harbaugh (1982–1986) · succeeded by Gary Darnell (1997–2004).
| Season | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||||
| Record | 5-6 | 9-3 | 5-6 | 7-4 | 6-5 | 7-3-1 | 7-3-1 | 7-4 | 7-4 | 2-9 | |
| Postseason | — | L bowl | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Postseason detail1988: Lost to Fresno State 30-35 Bowl
5 NFL Draft picks: Kevin Haverdink (1989), Joel Smeenge (1990), Paul Hutchins (1993), Steve Hawkins (1994), Tom Nutten (1995)
−1.6
62-47-2
1982–1986
Jack Harbaugh Steady
Jack Harbaugh slid Western Michigan from Regional Program I to Regional Program II in 5 seasons.
−1.6 pts over 5 seasons · top 41% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Jeff Horton’s UNLV run (1994–1998)
6th-best Western Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Elliot Uzelac (1975–1981) · succeeded by Al Molde (1987–1996).
3 NFL Draft picks: Tom Toth (1985), John Offerdahl (1986), Mark Garalczyk (1987)
−1.6
25-27-3
1975–1981
Elliot Uzelac Steady
Elliot Uzelac moved the Broncos from Regional Program II to Regional Program I in 7 seasons.
+1.0 pts over 7 seasons · bottom 44% of 6-9-season tenures (368 in sample)
Closest comparable run: John Mackovic’s Texas run (1992–1997)
4th-best Western Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Bill Doolittle (1964–1974) · succeeded by Jack Harbaugh (1982–1986).
+1.0
38-39
1964–1974
Bill Doolittle Steady
Bill Doolittle slid Western Michigan from Regional Program I to Regional Program II in 11 seasons.
−4.4 pts over 11 seasons · bottom 11% of 10+-season tenures (202 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Rick Stockstill’s Middle Tennessee run (2006–2023)
3rd-best Western Michigan tenure of 9 by the numbers.
Followed Merle Schlosser (1962–1963) · succeeded by Elliot Uzelac (1975–1981).
3 NFL Draft picks: Bob Rowe (1967), Dale Livingston (1968), Bill Slater (1972)
−4.4
58-49-2
1962–1963
Merle Schlosser Short tenure
7-11